Yankees-Dodgers World Series history: 11 series of drama and dynasty
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Follow UsBaseball’s grandest stage is set for an epic revival as the Yankees and Dodgers prepare to renew their storied rivalry in the 2024 World Series, marking their 12th championship meeting.
These powerhouse franchises stand as pillars of baseball excellence, with a rivalry dating back to their shared New York roots in the 1940s. The Yankees have dominated the series historically, claiming eight of their previous 11 encounters. However, this highly anticipated matchup represents their first Fall Classic clash in over four decades.
Both organizations operate under the weight of championship expectations, driven by passionate fan bases, media scrutiny, and internal standards that define success solely by World Series victories. The Yankees seek redemption for their 1981 defeat, while the Dodgers aim to improve their historical record against their longtime nemesis.
The Bombers’ supremacy in this rivalry includes seven triumphs over the Brooklyn-era Dodgers. The 2024 showdown carries added significance as only the second time this century that both leagues’ top seeds have collided in the World Series, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
This matchup stands unrivaled in World Series history – their 12 meetings far outpacing the seven times the Yankees faced the Giants. As Dodger Stadium prepares to host Game 1, both teams look to etch a new chapter in their incomparable October history. Here’s a glimpse at their memorable past encounters.
1941 World Series: Yankees 4-1 Dodgers
The first meeting between the two teams saw the Yankees’ pitching dominate. Red Ruffing, Marius Russo, and Tiny Bonham each threw complete-game gems, allowing just one earned run apiece. Ruffing kicked off the series with a Game 1 victory, Russo followed up in Game 3, and Bonham closed it out in Game 5, sealing the Yankees’ title.
1947 World Series: Yankees 4-3 Dodgers
This seven-game thriller highlighted the talent on both sides. The Yankees jumped ahead with two wins at home, but Brooklyn fought back. Game 3 featured home runs from Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra, though the Dodgers claimed the victory. Cookie Lavagetto’s walk-off double in Game 4 tied the series in a dramatic moment.
DiMaggio homered again in Game 5, helping the Yankees edge out a 2-1 win behind Spec Shea’s complete-game performance. With Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese leading the charge, Brooklyn pushed the series to Game 7. However, a balanced Yankees attack secured a 5-2 win, clinching another championship for New York.
1949 World Series: Yankees 4-1 Dodgers
The 1949 World Series kicked off with a pair of tightly contested pitching duels at Yankee Stadium, with both teams claiming 1-0 victories. After splitting the first two games, the Yankees took control, winning three straight at Ebbets Field to secure the title. Despite the overall success, New York’s star hitters struggled. Yogi Berra managed just one hit in 16 at-bats, while Joe DiMaggio notched only two hits in 18 appearances. However, DiMaggio’s lone home run came at a crucial moment, helping seal the Yankees’ 10-6 win in the decisive Game 5.
1952 World Series: Yankees 4-3 Dodgers
Brooklyn’s powerhouse trio of Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, and Pee Wee Reese launched the Dodgers to a strong start with a Game 1 win, thanks to their home runs. The series then alternated wins through the first six games, setting the stage for a thrilling Game 7 at Ebbets Field. Mickey Mantle stepped up in the sixth inning of the final game, hitting the series-winning home run to break a 2-2 tie. Mantle finished the series with a .345 batting average and two home runs, while Johnny Mize added offensive firepower with three home runs, batting .400.
1953 World Series: Yankees 4-3 Dodgers
Billy Martin stole the show in the 1953 series, putting up a remarkable .500 average with two home runs, two triples, and eight RBIs. His heroics were highlighted by a walk-off single in Game 6 to clinch the championship. Mickey Mantle also played a key role, driving in seven runs with two homers, and Yogi Berra batted .429 with a home run and four RBIs, leading the Yankees to another dominant title run.
1955 World Series: Yankees 3-4 Dodgers
In one of the most memorable Fall Classics, the Dodgers finally broke through for their first World Series championship, defeating the Yankees 2-0 in a Game 7 upset at Yankee Stadium. Gil Hodges delivered the decisive runs for Brooklyn, while Duke Snider shined throughout the series, blasting four home runs and driving in seven RBIs. His 1.210 OPS over seven games capped a historic performance, giving Brooklyn its long-awaited title.
1956 World Series: Yankees 4-3 Dodgers
The 1956 World Series echoed its predecessor with home teams prevailing through the first six games, but the Yankees broke that trend with a dominant 9-0 win in Game 7 at Ebbets Field to capture the championship. Yogi Berra and Bill Skowron led the charge, each driving in four runs. Berra smashed two home runs, while Skowron’s seventh-inning grand slam sealed Brooklyn’s fate. Berra was outstanding throughout the series, batting .360 with three homers and 10 RBIs.
However, this series is most remembered for Don Larsen’s legendary Game 5 performance. Larsen delivered the only perfect game in postseason history, retiring all 27 batters in a 2-0 Yankees win at Yankee Stadium. With seven strikeouts, Larsen cemented his place in baseball lore, finishing the game by striking out Dale Mitchell looking. Mickey Mantle added a crucial home run in the fourth inning to back up the historic pitching feat.
1963 World Series: Yankees 0-4 Dodgers
The 1963 series was defined by the Dodgers’ dominant pitching, as Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale overwhelmed the Yankees, holding them to just four total runs in a clean four-game sweep. Koufax was named Series MVP, delivering two stellar complete-game performances in Games 1 and 4, amassing 23 strikeouts and allowing just three runs over 18 innings. Drysdale added his own gem in Game 3, pitching a shutout in a tense 1-0 victory, as the Dodgers’ arms thoroughly stifled the Yankees’ lineup from start to finish.
1977 World Series: Yankees 4-2 Dodgers
Reggie Jackson delivered one of the most memorable performances in World Series history, earning his “Mr. October” moniker by batting .450 and hitting five home runs over six games. Jackson’s five homers in a single World Series have only been matched by George Springer in 2017 and Chase Utley in 2009, with Jackson and Utley achieving the feat in fewer than seven games.
The series reached its pinnacle in Game 6, where Jackson turned in a historic performance. He went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, smashing three home runs and driving in five runs in the Yankees’ 8-4 victory to clinch the championship. Jackson’s three-homer feat in a World Series clincher put him in rarefied air, matching Babe Ruth’s legendary 1928 performance.
1978 World Series: Yankees 4-2 Dodgers
After the Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, the Yankees stormed back to win four straight games, securing their second consecutive championship. Lou Piniella came up clutch with a walk-off hit in Game 4, while Thurman Munson powered the Yankees in Game 5 with a five-RBI performance.
In Game 6, Reggie Jackson again made his presence felt, hitting his fourth home run of the series. Bucky Dent also shined from the ninth spot in the order, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the Yankees’ 7-2 win to claim the title.
1981 World Series: Yankees 2-4 Dodgers
The Dodgers rebounded from an early 2-0 series deficit to defeat the Yankees, with home-field advantage playing a key role. Fernando Valenzuela turned the tide with a critical 5-4 win in Game 3, setting off a string of three straight one-run victories for Los Angeles.
In Game 6, back in New York, Pedro Guerrero delivered a standout performance, collecting three hits, including a triple and a home run, while driving in five runs. The Dodgers’ 9-2 victory secured their first World Series title since 1965.
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